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Trending: NFL Player Indicted on Charges He Assaulted Woman, Marries Same Woman the Next Day

Ravens Runningback Ray Rice was charged Thursday with assaulting Janay Palmer. On Friday he married her.

Written by Elizabeth Janney

The Ravens running back known for his quick cuts made a personal move to wed his fiancée the day after being indicted on an assault charge.

Ray Rice and Janay Palmer tied the knot on Friday in a private wedding that had been in the works "for a couple of weeks," ESPN reported.

Originally, the wedding was planned for the summer, according to The Baltimore Sun, which reported the couple may still hold a celebration then.

Friday night's nuptials came the day after Rice was indicted on one count of aggravated assault involving Palmer, for attempting to cause significant bodily injury, and/or purposely or knowing causing such injury and/or recklessly causing such injury under extreme indifference to the value of human life.

The charge stemmed from a Feb. 15 incident at the Revel Casino in Atlantic City, NJ, between Rice, 27, and Palmer, 26.

Rice and Palmer were both charged with simple assault and released on summons complaints.

The case became a media frenzy after video of Rice dragging Palmer from an elevator surfaced. According to Rice's attorney, the footage is incomplete.

"We deny that he committed an aggravated assault. We don't think the law would support that..." Michael Diamonstein, Rice's lawyer, said. "And we just ask the public to reserve judgment until all of the facts are out."

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The case was referred to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office for review, and the simple assault complaint against Palmer was administratively dismissed, according to Galloway Patch in New Jersey. A grand jury indicted Rice on the third-degree assault charge Thursday.

"Neither Ray nor Janay Palmer wish[es] to prosecute the matter," Diamondstein told NFL media. "Ray and Janay are together. They're happy, and they're in counseling."

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A close friend and teammate of Rice also said the couple was doing well.

"They're happy ... they're growing [and] they're trying to better themselves from it," Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith told The Baltimore Sun, after he visited the newlyweds.

Rice and Palmer have a young daughter named Rayven, according to WBAL, and they live in Reisterstown.

Their marriage does not mean that Palmer would be excused from testifying against Rice, according to TMZ, which reported spousal privilege is not applicable in New Jersey in cases where the spouse is the victim.

However, a defense attorney in New Jersey told The Star-Ledger that it's likely rather than trial, Rice may try to enter the state's pre-trial intervention program for first offenders, an initiative to deter criminal behavior that does not involve a trial.

Since the initial reports of his arrest, the Ravens have stood behind Rice.

“He’ll be back with the team. He’ll definitely be back,” owner Steve Bisciotti told the BaltimoreRavens.com this week. "I know how terribly disappointing it is to Ray and his fiancée, how embarrassing it is for them. I have to have compassion towards him."


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